Bertram "Drumstrings" Casey is a nineteen year-old rock guitarist and singer who captures Evie's attention when he is interviewed on the radio. His nickname comes from his penchant for drumming on the guitar strings. He dresses in black, has long, black, oily hair, and slinks when he walks. The songs he writes and performs are marked by his tendency to speak lines in the midst of them that are unconnected to the song and seem to make sense only to him, although even Drum says he does not know how they arise. He thinks of himself as an exceptional musician and has dreams of getting out of town and becoming well-known, but does very little to help turn that dream into reality. Instead, he relies on his manager and on Evie to get work and publicity for him, while he complains and grows morose about the lack of progress being made in his career. After he gets in a fight and is kicked out of his family home, he asks Evie to marry him, which is obviously because he wants someone to take care of him now that his mother is no longer available. He never thanks Evie for all that she does for him, and tells her does not want her to work, but changes his mind quickly when she gives him her first pay. Drum is not bad at heart, and yet he is selfish, shallow, lazy, and unappreciative. In short, he is a spoiled brat, even though he comes from a poor family, and never has had any material benefits. He practices his guitar fairly often, but nevertheless has not learned self-discipline. Drum will not make the transition from a boy to a man until he learns how to be responsible for himself.
